The 40 ancient herbs presented hereŚincluding olive, pomegranate, myrtle, rose, coriander, marjoram, garlic, and thymeŚwere all important for culinary, medicinal, and religious purposes in classical antiquity. Marina Heilmeyer draws on her extensive knowledge of ancient practices to paint an intriguing image of the many and varied uses of and myths about plants from Greek and particularly Roman kitchen gardens. Included are quotes from classical authors about ancient practices, and illustrations from early 19th-century botanical publications, which show the plants at various stages of growth, from seeds through to ripe fruits.